LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
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February 8, 2013
New for 2013 ®
Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper
February 8, 2013
Read about this year’s best new boats.
Page 18
Volume 9, Issue 12
Chris Kyle killed while helping others
Inside
One of America’s heroes lost his life on Feb. 2. Chris Kyle, an ex-Navy SEAL who wrote the bestselling book “American Sniper” about his service in Iraq, was shot and killed at the Rough Creek Lodge and Resort, located approximately 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth near Glen Rose.
❘❚ HUNTING
Red raccoon Varmint tournament growing, produces rare trophy. Page 5
Relocating again Pronghorn once again moving from Panhandle to Trans Pecos. Page 4
❘❚ FISHING
Police in Stephenville said Eddie Ray Routh, 25, of Lancaster, has been arraigned on two counts of capital murder for the Feb. 2 shooting of Kyle, 38, and Kyle’s friend Chad Littlefield, 35. The pair had taken Routh to the range for a day of shooting, to help
Routh as he dealt with issues related to combat. Kyle helped established the FITCO Cares foundation, a charity that helps U.S. war vets “who have survived combat but are still fighting to survive posttraumatic stress disorder,” the group’s website said. Travis Cox, director of
FITCO Cares, said the pair had taken Routh, a former Marine, to the range to “give him a helping hand and he turned the gun on them, killing them both.” Routh, who served in the USMC from June 2006 to January 2010, is currently CHRIS KYLE
See KYLE, Page 14
Montezuma quail sighted in unusual places Uvalde, Kinney counties part of bird’s historical range By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Finally, some consistency Weather turning good for big trout along the coast Page 8
Five on the spot Two former champions lead five Texans into the Bassmaster Classic. Page 9
❘❚ CONTENTS
Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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Once encompassing a range throughout the Hill Country and Trans-Pecos region, the Montezuma, or Mearns, quail, has seen its traditional habitat drop by more than 90 percent the past 100 years. So it came as quite a surprise for Dallas hunter Stephen Hill when he came across two coveys of the secretive bird while visiting his father-in-law’s ranch near Uvalde over Thanksgiving. “I’ve never seen them before,” said Hill, a member of Park Cities Quail. “And we saw two small coveys on this trip. In 20 years, this was the first time anyone had seen them. We’ve never seen blue quail, either, but actually saw a covey of those also.” Hill said the coveys didn’t seem overly alarmed, and slowly walked into the brush after he snapped a quick picture. “I have a friend in Brackettville who also found a couple of coveys,” he said. “That is less than 15 miles away.” Although the western edge of the Edwards Plateau isn’t ideal habitat for Montezuma quail, it isn’t unheard of that the birds could establish a population there. “Both of those counties had historic distributions,” said TPWD biologist Dave Holdermann. “These birds aren’t prone to long-distance movements, so it is pretty well accepted
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See MONTEZUMA QUAIL, Page 14
RARE SIGHT: This photo of a Montezuma quail was recently taken in Uvalde County. Photo by Stephen Hill.
PULLING IN SOME BIG ONES: Amistad and Falcon are heating up as bass hit the beds for the earliest spawn in the state. Top photo by David J. Sams, LSON. Bottom photo by Outlaw Guide Service.
Time to hit it hard Amistad, Falcon start the bass spawn By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Spring comes early on the border. Anglers of famed reservoirs Amistad and Falcon are getting a jump on spring fishing early this year, as the bass seem to be almost a month ahead of schedule and have already begun spawning. According to Amistad guide Stan Gerzsenyi, he is catching good numbers on a shallow grass bite throwing jigs and crankbaits. “The fishing has been pretty good,” he said. “They are trying to spawn — spring is here. I usually find them on beds in late February, but some fish are definitely shallow. I’m catching better
numbers shallow, but the bigger fish are a little deeper.” Gerzsenyi said finding grass flats is the key to catching solid numbers. “I’m covering a lot of water with a square-bill crankbait and jigs at different depths,” he said. “I’m using a watermelon color with a craw worm. There is a lot of grass in the lake right now, but I don’t know
how long it will last. “The water is dropping fast, so that will dry out some of the hydrilla.” San Angelo angler Austin Terry won the most recent EverStart Series event on the lake, and he See BASS, Page 14